Former Prime Minister Saad Hariri has clarified the speculation regarding his potential return to politics, stating: "The time has not yet come. I will not go back on my decision, and everything is beautiful in its time." He continued: "Lebanon is going through a dangerous phase... I have suspended political work, but that doesn’t mean one shouldn’t express opinions."
Hariri believes that "the rapprochement between Saudi Arabia and Iran benefits the region and promotes a policy of zero problems, allowing for a strong economy." He stated: "The love of the people is a blessing, and they have spoken. Lebanon today is suffering from economic collapse and the suffering of state institutions; how can solutions be found without the regular functioning of institutions, electing a president, forming a government, and implementing reforms?"
He added: "We should not overlook the interests of our country regardless of external events... Sleiman Frangieh is my friend just as Jihad Azour is." He considered that "resolving problems leads to moderation and the advancement of nations."
In response to a question about former MP Walid Jumblatt not attending a meeting at Beit al-Wasat, he remarked: "That's Walid…". Regarding the war in the south, he said: "Netanyahu is extreme and a war criminal. I wish strength to the people of the south and hope they are spared war because it is clear that Netanyahu is trying to pursue war at any cost."
He noted: "When Saudi Arabia chose to adopt a zero-problems policy, it was for stability, and it is a choice for economic growth. The zero-problems policy is fundamental to all development, and it’s a policy that I also followed in the past. If the parties genuinely want a president, we could have one tomorrow, but if each party insists on its opinion, certainly 'there will not be a president.'"
Hariri affirmed that "the experience of the 2016 settlement was a failure, but that doesn’t mean all experiences are failures." Regarding the Sunni community, he stated: "If I sense that the Sunni community in Lebanon tends toward extremism... then I will intervene."
